What is Anal Gland Expression?

Anal gland expression is a procedure which is performed on cats or dogs when fluid inside the gland builds and the animal is unable to express the fluid themselves. A professional pet groomer may offer to perform this quick procedure if needed, but it is essential that you take your pet to an experienced groomer who can identify possible infections or situations which require veterinary care.

What is an Anal Gland?

Cats and dogs have a very small anal gland located on each side of their rectum. The purpose of the gland is for scent marking, and each time an animal defecates, or needs to leave their signature scent, a very tiny amount of fluid is expressed from the glands. Most pet owners never notice their pet’s anal glands, fluid expression or any problems with the glands. It is only when the animal seems to have difficulty periodically clearing fluid from the gland that a problem may develop.

How to Tell if Your Pet Needs Anal Gland Expression

When the anal glands become filled with fluid, and the pet is unable to express them, the glands can become uncomfortable and painful. Symptoms which are associated with packed anal glands include:

Dogs scooting on the floor or chasing their tail.

Cats and dogs repeatedly licking or chewing around their rectum.

A foul odor around the cat or dog’s rectum or tail area.

Anal Gland Expression and Professional Grooming Services

If you notice any of these symptoms in your pet, it is best to see a veterinarian as soon as possible. Your veterinarian will be able to tell if the anal glands need to be manually expressed or if perhaps the glands have become impacted or infected. Some pets only develop an anal gland problem occasionally or never at all, but other pets may have lifelong problems with their glands which require periodic expression.

In cases where a pet needs expression of the anal glands, the glands are pressed from each side to squeeze the fluid from the glands. The glands may also be cleared by applying pressure from the inside of the rectum to the outside of the glands. If a pet needs regular anal gland expression – and no infection is present – than a professional groomer may offer this service. The procedure can quickly be performed while the pet is groomed, and the groomer can ensure that all of the fluids have been removed from the pet's fur.

As a professional groomer, I am often asked how to remove those
awful eye stains that some light-colored dogs are prone to. These dogs are
easy to spot, with their raccoon-like masks around their eyes. There are
dozens of products on the market that claim to take these stains away with
regular usage. Be forewarned; they do not work. Unfortunately, there is no
magic potion that will remove the dark stains from around a pet's eyes.Many
different breeds suffer from excessive eye drainage. It is more noticeable with
lighter-colored dogs because of the hair color change that takes place. The
telltale reddish-brown stain is easy to spot, but hard to cure. As in many
things, prevention is the name of the game.

First, it is important to rule out any health problems that may be causing
the eye irritation. The purpose of tears in a dog's eye is to cleanse and
lubricate the eye. If there is excessivetearing, this may be caused by a
medical condition that would need care from a veterinarian.The first step in
solving this dilemma is to rule out any health reasons for the tearing.The
reddish-brown stains are caused by iron in the dog's system. It actually dyes
the hairthat color, just like a rust stain you might find on a recently
laundered piece of clothing.These stains can show up not only around the
eyes, but around the dog's mouth, too, or alsoin any area that he might be
licking excessively. The saliva acts like the tears, stainingthe rust color
permanently onto the dog's coat.

One of the easiest ways to reduce staining is to give the dog only distilled
water to drink. This is an old trick used by many white poodle breeders to
reduce the staining problem, andit is usually very effective. Filtered water
will not work; it must be distilled water, andit must be given to the dog
consistently. Other things can contribute to staining also. Some of the
inexpensive commercial dog foods contain high levels of food coloring, which can
also add to the staining problem as well. Feeding a premium quality food
with fewer dyes and preservatives can sometimes dramatically reduce the
staining.

In addition to the unattractive appearance of the staining, often the eye
matter collects and dries around the dog's eyes, leaving a hard lump in the
corner of the eye. Not only is thisunsightly, but, if left untreated over
time, it can become quite odorous and the area aroundthe eyes can become
infected. This can be horribly painful for the animal, and usually meansa
trip to the veterinarian for oral and topical antibiotic treatments.

Finally, there are other common sense issues that can indeed help with the
staining problem. Keeping the dogs face clipped short is an obvious
solution. If the hair around the eyes is short, the tears then don't have
anything to cling to. Also, wiping the dog's face two or three timesper day
with a warm washcloth will do wonders in reducing the amount and severity of the
staining.

Dog's nails need to be a part of regular grooming, every 3 to 4 weeks. Short nails prevent scratching of both you and your floors as well as preventing harmful diseases and pain for your dog. A Dremel is an electronic tool alternative to nail clippers.

Avoid Cutting Nails Too Short

Dremeling a dog's nails allows you to remove small layers of nail at a time, avoiding pain. According to Daily Puppy, Dremeling your dog's nails will not cut the quick--the sensitive cluster of blood vessels inside the nail. The Dremel will gently sand off small layers of nail, allowing you to stop before getting too close to the quick. If your dog's nails are very long, begin sanding off just a little of the nail at a time. Follow up on the trim a week later to help the quick recede back into the top of the nail, allowing you to shave off more of the nail over time.

Bottom Line

Dremeling provides a quick, painless alternative to clippers for trimming your dog's nails. Dremeling can be used just as often as clippers--every 3 to 4 weeks. Dremeling makes for a smoother nail and a happier pet.